I just didn’t know he’d internalized the lesson until now. Bless him. I hope it sticks.

I expect my husband to forgive me when I mess up. My parents and siblings, too. Most friends, I’ve found, are pretty kind when I come to them with an apology.

But what about God?

And what about when the things I do are not mistakes, accidents, or mishaps, but instead just straight-up sin?

Somehow I have a really hard time believing that he wants to forgive me for being selfish again. For forgetting to spend time with him again. For ignoring a person in need, choosing Netflix over Nahum, making plans without consulting him, filling my prayers with “I want’s” instead of “I love you’s.”

We all struggle with sin. As the ancient prayer of confession from the Book of Common worship states, “We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, both by what we have done and by what we have left undone.” Truth.

And yet.

One of the hidden gems of Scripture is the book of Lamentations. It’s filled with God’s people pouring out their heartache over their sin. They’ve screwed up, and (for once) they’re admitting it.

Jerusalem has been destroyed by Babylon, and the people of God sit in the ashes and weep. They have caused this. Their sin. Their worship of idols. Their turning from God.

It’s a sad, heart-wrenching, chastening book. A reminder that sin is serious and God is serious and we wander from him at our own peril.

But even amidst the mourning, pain, and realizations that sin has consequences, all is not lost. From Lamentations 3:

Lamentations 3:22-26

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.

The city lies in ruins, but the people of God are not consumed. There are consequences for sin, but compassion continues nonetheless.

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2 thoughts on “Again Tomorrow * 10 Minute Devotional”

I LOVE this Courtney! It’s uplifting and gives me hope.
Also, I’m going to use “everyone makes mistakes” with my boys. I am too quick to anger and am struggling with patience so this simple phrase should help me breathe and help them understand that yes, forgiveness lives at our house. Thanks!!